This was an engrossing story about three women assigned to work at Latimer House during World War 2. Evelyn is a high-society Englishwoman and an officer, who speaks fluent German and is used to question German POWs. Prior to the war, she was engaged to a German, and her brother is a POW in Germany, so she has a lot of worries.

Judith is a Jew who escaped from Germany at the beginning of the War. She has lost much, and is bitter towards the Germans and grieving for her past life.

Betty grew up in a cottage in a small village. She's beautiful, and bubbly, but worries about her mother and sister.

The three women are competent, patriotic, and very real. I loved watching their friendship grow. And it was interesting seeing that facet of the war effort. I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction about World War 2 - this gives a different view than what I've typically read.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

The Secrets of Latimer House is Jules Wakes’ emotional, evocative and enthralling historical debut sure to go down a treat with fans of Elaine Everest and Nancy Revell.

Latimer House is a grand estate tucked away deep in the Buckingham countryside and home to three different women united by friendship and by a strong desire to do whatever it takes to help their country defeat the enemy. Society heiress Evelyn Brooke-Edwards leaves a trail of broken hearts wherever she goes yet people underestimate her at their own peril. Beneath her sophisticated and beautiful exterior resides a strong, intelligent and skilled interrogator able to uncover the deepest and darkest secrets of dangerous prisoners. Meanwhile, farm girl Betty Connors might not exactly proficient at typing, but there isn’t a code she cannot crack. Her analytical skills are second to none and her ability to unearth covert connections has made her a most valuable asset. Latimer House has also provided German ex-pat Judith Stern with a place of refuge after the Nazis had taken her father away. Listening in to the German’s conversations has helped the allies to come ever closer to winning this war and provided her with the distraction she so desperately seeks.

As these three women find themselves bonding in the M Room at Latimer House, a fast friendship soon develops and with this horrible war showing no sign of ending anytime soon, Evelyn, Betty and Judith will find themselves relying on each other through the good times and the bad, hoping against hope that there will come a day when the world is no longer at war.

Having read and enjoyed Jules Wake’s delightful contemporary romantic comedies, my expectations were high for her debut historical novel and she managed to exceed every single one of them with The Secrets of Latimer House. A beautifully told wartime tale, The Secrets of Latimer House shines a very bright light on the many sacrifices women made during the war, the friendship that saw them through this difficult period of their lives and the endless reserves of strength and courage that kept them going, even when everything seemed lost and hopeless.

Full of wonderful period detail that brings the past to life, heart-pounding emotional drama and characters that will linger in the mind long after the last page is turned, The Secrets of Latimer House will satisfy Jules Wake’s legion of fans and win her a whole host of new admirers, who will find themselves completely gripped by her fantastic historical debut.

I was given a copy of The Secrets of Latimer house by Jules Wake by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It is set during world war 2 in a country house. Evelyn, Betty and Judith live together in the house where they also work. They must keep secret what their role is. Although from very different lives they soon become good friends.
A great story for fans of historical fiction.

Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows the lives of three women in Britain working at a secret POW interrogation site.

Evelyn Brooke-Edwards is a British officer, fluent in German, that is involved in the questioning of the prisoners.

Betty Connors comes from a nearby village and applies to be a typist at the site, hoping that no one realizes that she is not a trained typist.

Judith Stern escaped from Germany after losing everything and is employed as a translator listening in to bugged prisoner cells to glean any information that may help the British.

Even though this book highlights a tense and horrific time in history, the storyline has a very lighthearted tone in it's telling. These three women come from very different lives but become close friends fighting for a common cause. They share their struggles and triumphs, supporting each other in a very difficult time.

Enjoyable book sure to be loved by many readers.

We meet Evelyn, Betty and Judith, as three very different girls, each with their own personalities, history and fears.
They are brought together at Latimer House, a grand country house comanderred by the British SOE during WW2 as a place to hold Nazi prisoners. A secretive place...so secret, each girl doesn't know what task her room-mate is undertaking. But together they work to destroy the Germans grip of WW2.
While I had heard of the work at Bletchley, I was amazed to read of the highly sensitive work these young ladies were recruited to do. A glimpse into the secretive work undertaken to try and bring the war to a close. A real credit to there like, in a generation where the men did the work to support a family. But of course, many men were off fighting, so the hidden talents of the womenfolk were able to come to the fore and they had the opportunity to join in their unique way, showing their patriotism and "doing there bit". I was delighted to see the girls promoted in the ranks, based on their ability to do the job well.
I believe this is her first historical fiction but Jules Wake has done amazingly well with thorough research in a time of Covid lockdown. I was easily transported to the 1940s and entirely felt the story of fiction to be fact. Coupled with the high and lows, testing the friendship of our 3 room mates, I was drawn into their individualities as well as how they bounced off each other for support and morale. I was so invested in the "Three Musketeers", I was just as upset as them, when one of their ranks meets the physical horrors of war in person.
Jule Wake has a real talent and I hope she continues to explore the histocal fiction genre a bit more.....I'll be seeking out the titles.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Jule Wake for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Based on a true operation and a real house during WWII, this story was captivating. I loved it and couldn’t put it down.
Many thanks to Harper Collins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I found this story fascinating. I'd never read anything by Jules before but intend to rush out and read as many as possible now.
Absolutely could not put this one down.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

My thanks to NetGalley, and Harper Collins UK for a copy of this beautiful eBook. The Secrets of Latimer House by Jules Wake kept me enthralled right up until the end. In fact, I didn't want it to end. Still, the ending was fab. The three female characters, Evelyn, Judith and Betty are fantastically depicted and the setting is wonderful. It's a breath of fresh air in fact and makes a wonderful change for a WW2 novel. There aren't many female naval intelligence officers in such novels. I loved it. Wonderfully written, great, riveting storyline and well paced. Definite page turner!

What a great book, well written, really interesting subject matter, learning all about the secret work that a lot of people did during WWII. Great characters. Would definitely recommend

This is a fascinating story about the part Latimer House played in World War Two. A really involving story as there was lots of emotion.. The ups and downs of the jobs these women did and living within a war situation was brought to life. Great Read!

I was given this book for free in return for an honest review. This is one of my favourite genres of books, so was on a winner from the outset, keeping me up all night to finish it. I loved the main characters and felt invested in them. The story is well told, based on real stories, and is sensitive recounted. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys this genre.

Secrets of Latimer House is a wonderful WWII story of what three women won't do to help end this horrible war!! Follow these three woman's friendship as they follow and listen to the Nazis 's secrets in Room M and report it so the Allies can stop them.. Exciting and so eventful action takes place as they also try to find Judith's father..Nazi prisoners,secrets,women and friendship you will not want to miss this exciting story.. Received from Net Gallery!! Such a historical fiction story you will never forget!!

What a fabulous story this was, it does have a mix of historical fact and fiction. This is the story of three women who come from very different backgrounds but have a valuable and important way of helping the war effort. These girls are listeners and secret gathers and what they discover help Churchill and his g3enerals plot and plan to bring down Hitler and end World War II.

Judith is a quiet woman, she isn't outgoing, more mouselike. She is one of the survivors who made her way to England and is of Jewish descent. Betty is local to Latimer house as she grew up in the village nearby. She has a farming background. Evelyn is from a monied background, private education and believes it is more important to help out where she can rather than gallivant around in social circles.

The author provides a quick intro to each of the women and to what they have been doing up to this part of the war. Each of them has a specialism that is of benefit to the goings-on in Lattimer House. Whether it is the ability to speak German or have lived there or indeed having a memory that makes connections easier.

The author brings these three together and gradually as they begin to get to know each other it is easy for the reader to do the same. It wasn't long before I could distinguish each character, their personality and their way of thinking. Each one brings sadness with them, this is war and life being life is always going to leave an impression.

The author really does a brilliant job with the characters, the main ones as well as the supporting ones. The story has a fabulous flow and I was able to see the women doing their job and realise what an impact this actually had on them mentally.

The author has included a piece at the end of the story as she describes the role of this large Buckinghamshire house and its part in the war. A place where captured crew and pilots were taken to prior to their transfer to Prisoner of War camps in other parts of the UK. It was interesting to follow up this story by having a browse through the internet to discover more.

I found this book to be addictive and a fabulous read apart from the last 15%, it is hard to read when you have tears in your eyes. This ending was very special and I loved how the author brought the story of the three women to a conclusion. It seemed very fitting and appropriate as well as keeping in with the story.

A wonderful story with fabulous characters and one for fans of historical romance and fiction. It is one I would definitely recommend

I loved this book but then I am a fan of historical fiction. The story takes us through the lives and loves of three women who worked together during the WW2 and how their friendships and their personalities evolved was quite interesting to read. A great read!

This book falls into one of my favourite categories - strong women during a Second World War setting - for a comfort-read, and it did not disappoint.. I loved the characters, solid and forthright, though with a sense of the period, which shaped their differing backgrounds and future opportunities. I found the characters credible and engaging, and their backstories and reactions matched their personalities. I felt thoroughly invoved from start to finish. A smashing, and blissfully undemanding read with an uplifting, feel-good afterglow!

‘What an amazing place and what on earth did they do here? She couldn’t begin to imagine but she was glad that this other woman seemed as in the dark as she was.’

Okay … call me late to the party but I have only just realised that Jules Wake and Julie Caplin are one and the same! I love them both … or is that singular? Whatever it is … I can say that Julie/Jules is one talented lady! Whether it be her Romantic Escape series I am such a fan of or this, what I have discovered is her new foray into historical fiction, she is amazing and one author you are sure to want to check out!

‘Her soul had been left untended since her father had died. She’d allowed bitterness to twist her spirit, grief to dull her senses and loneliness to disconnect her from others.’

This book reminds me somewhat of ‘The Rose Code’ with three girls from different backgrounds working in support of the British war effort. Latimer House, a place where German POWs are interrogated is the place that brings them together - all based on fact and all incredibly interesting. Anyone invested in this time period is sure to want to learn more as the history of this book is fascinating. Jules' research in writing this during lockdown is truly commendable as she so easily brings it all to life.

‘One always has to have hope.’ ‘In a sane world, yes, but war takes us into madness.’ ‘Only if you are led by a madman.’

Of course, this is also a tale of the strengths of female friendships through many trials and tribulations, laughter and joy - memories being made. Each girl brings something different to the tale and the supporting characters are also most engaging. The chapters are written from each of their individual viewpoints and it’s so varied as each comes from such differing backgrounds. How the war impacts upon them and the real glimpse Jules gives us of what working in such a location as Latimer House would have been like.

‘What shall we make a toast to? I feel like we’re the three musketeers.’ Betty glanced at Judith and said, ‘To tomorrow, because today is done.’

Wonderfully researched and readily readable, this book is a must read for history connoisseurs with its perfect mix of daily life and the story of a friendship in challenging times. Jules expertly blends how cultural and social barriers were broken down and lasting relationships were forged.

‘Friendship improves happiness and abates grief by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.’ ‘What a wonderful saying.’ ‘I can’t take the credit. It was Cicero, a Roman scholar.’





This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

What a wonderful read of this historical fiction. I could not put the book down!! Three very different women came together and formed a magical friendship through WW2 while working in a secret location Latimer House in Buckinghamshire. This is based on a true story where thousands of German prisoners passed through Latimer House.
Betty was a farm girl, Evelyn from a wealthy background and Judith a German Jew who came from totally different backgrounds and were very different types of women who were thrown together during this time and shared a room at Latimer House.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Judith a German Jew, Evelyn a society girl, and Betty a farm girl make an usual trio of friends at the highly secret Latimer House, but with their different skills they are making a difference to the war and they will stand by each other through thick and thin.

A great story of three women from completely different backgrounds and exceptional skills working in secret for the good of the country and their story keeps you fascinated making this book is a real page turner

Absolutely amazing
Evelyn, Betty and Judith have ended up sharing a room in Latimer House, a top secret war time facility hidden in the English countryside where higher ranking German prisoners of war are interrogated
I loved the characters of Judith, Evelyn and Betty, they are from vastly different backgrounds but have come together in wartime. They challenge and support each other, they have come together to make a difference and they end up making lifelong friends, although each road has its hiccups. Each girl had her own skill set, Judith is a German Jew who escaped and came to Britain, Betty is a local girl with an extraordinary memory and Evelyn is a higher class young lady who travelled round Europe and who had a German fiancée before the war. Their talents mean that they each excel at their specific jobs and I think this helped me to love them even more as I could understand more about them, who they are, their hopes and dreams and the troubles they have endured
I really enjoyed this book, it caught my attention right from the start and because it’s based on Latimer House’s real wartime purpose it felt so real and the lines between fact and fiction became blurred. I became so entangled in the story that I could see the characters and the situations in real life, they were there in front of me and I really didn’t want to let them go at the end of the book
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a story full of secrets, drama and intrigue with a central circle of characters who will capture your heart from the very first page